A beautifully immersive restaurant in Scotland — in the 16th-century buildings at Edinburgh Castle gates, lit entirely by candlelight, wood paneling and tapestries, serving exceptional Scottish produce: steak tartare, game from Glenfeshie Estate, seafood, haggis. A leading Edinburgh dining experience.
Why It Belongs on the List
The Witchery restaurant is defined by setting and experience — a candlelit room of carved wood paneling, tapestries, and oil paintings in a 16th-century building at the gates of Edinburgh Castle. The food is as serious as the setting: the steak tartare is legendary (made with exceptional Angus beef), game from the Glenfeshie Estate is impeccably handled, the seafood is briny-fresh, and even the haggis transcends its tourist reputation here. The wine list is one of the finest in Scotland. Book months ahead for a table in the atmospheric Library or Witchery dining rooms. The adjacent Secret Garden (an outdoor courtyard) is a separate and equally beautiful room.
What Stands Out
- Most richly evocative restaurant in Scotland
- Lit entirely by candlelight
- 16th-century building at castle gates
- Steak tartare — legendary
- Game from Glenfeshie Estate
- Exceptional seafood platters
- One of Scotland's finest wine lists
- Library and Witchery dining rooms
- Book months ahead
- Secret Garden outdoor courtyard